Zipper and method of manufacturing the same

ABSTRACT

A zipper and method of manufacturing the same are disclosed. The method comprises steps of coating a first liquid polymer on the surface of a pair of strips to the extent that the first liquid polymer is infiltrated into the pair of strips, solidifying the first liquid polymer to form a water-repellent layer, and molding a second liquid polymer on the surface of the water-repellent layer to form a predetermined profile so that the pattern of the surface of the zipper can be changed easily and the zipper is made more attractive.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a zipper, and more particularly, to a zipper having water-proof effect by infiltrating and solidifying a first liquid polymer on the surface of and within a pair of strips and having three-dimensional effect by coating a second liquid polymer above the solidified first liquid polymer on the surface of the pair of strips.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Zippers are used wildly in various products such as clothes, shoes, wallets, bags, or suitcases. People can take out various small entities or put them into wallets, bags, or suitcases more conveniently by the use of zippers characteristic in that they can be easily zipped or unzipped.

As shown in FIG. 8, the structure of a conventional zipper a1 comprises a pair of interlockable chains a2 and a pair of strips a3 each of which is combined with each interlockable chain a2. The zipper a1 can perform its function by means that each of the strips a3 is sewn to each side of the closure of clothes, shoes, wallets, bags, or suitcases. Although the structure of the zipper a1 is very convenient in use, a gap will exist between teeth a4 of the interlockable chains a2 when the two chains a2 are interlocked. In rainy days or splashed by certain fluid, although the surface of some wallets, bags, or suitcases can be water-proof temporarily, water molecules will still infiltrate into the interior of the some wallets, bags, or suitcases via the gap existing between the teeth a4 of the interlockable chains a2.

In order to improve the disadvantages of a conventional zipper described above, the present invention provides a method of infiltrating a water-repellent layer into the strips in zipper manufacture, wherein the method mainly includes steps of attaching PU (polyurethane) gel and PU membrane to a pair of strips together by heating and cutting centrally the water-repellent layer formed by the combination of the PU gel and PU membrane, so that the pair of strips combined with the PU gel and PU membrane can be separated to form two strips with water-repellent effect. However, the processing procedures of this method are too complicated to be economic.

In view of the disadvantages above, the inventor has motivation to provide a zipper, which is economic, has water-repellent effect on its surface, and can produce a three-dimensional effect by forming a predetermined pattern on the surface of the zipper strips.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One objective of the present invention is to provide a zipper and method for manufacturing the same, which have simplified procedures and water-repellent effect by coating and solidifying a first liquid polymer on the surface of and within zipper strips.

Another objective of the present invention is to provide a zipper and method for manufacturing the same, which have a predetermined profile of shapes, characters, or patterns formed by molding, rather than injecting, a second liquid polymer above the solidified first liquid polymer on the surface of the strips so that the zipper is attractive.

In order to achieve the above goals, the zipper manufacturing method according to the present invention comprises steps of: a. providing a zipper having a pair of strips; b. coating a first liquid polymer on the surface of the pair of strips to the extent that the first liquid polymer is infiltrated into the pair of strips; c. solidifying the first liquid polymer to form a water-repellent layer; and d. molding a second liquid polymer on the surface of the water-repellent layer to form a predetermined profile.

Besides, the zipper according to the present invention comprises a pair of interlockable chains, a pair of strips each of which is combined with an interlockable chain, a water-repellent layer, and a 3-dimesion molding layer. The water-proof layer is formed by solidifying a first liquid polymer on the surface of or within the pair of strips, and the 3-dimesion molding layer is molded on the surface of the water-repellent layer to form a predetermined profile.

The following detailed description, given by way of examples and not intended to limit the invention solely to the embodiments described herein, will best be understood in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a flow chart of an embodiment of the method of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a top view of an embodiment of the zipper of the present invention.

FIG. 3 shows the step b of the method of the present invention wherein a first liquid polymer is coated on the surface of zipper strips.

FIG. 4 shows the step d of the method of the present invention wherein a second liquid polymer is molded on the surface of a water-repellent layer.

FIG. 5 shows a side view of a zipper of the present invention wherein the second liquid polymer is molded on the surface of the water-proof layer.

FIG. 6 shows a top view of a zipper of the present invention wherein a printing layer is attached to the surface of zipper strips.

FIG. 7 is a sectional schematic diagram of the zipper of the present invention wherein the printing layer is attached to the surface of zipper strips.

FIG. 8 is a top view of a conventional zipper.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIG. 1, a method of the present invention comprises steps of:

-   -   a. providing a zipper 1 having a pair of strips 2;     -   b. coating a first liquid polymer on the surface of the pair of         strips 2 of the zipper 1 to the extent that the first liquid         polymer is infiltrated into the pair of strips 2; and     -   c. solidifying the first liquid polymer to form a         water-repellent layer 3.

In the step b, the first liquid polymer can include PVC, PU, or silica gel material wherein the PU material can be in single-fluid or double-fluid phase. After directly coated on the surface of the strips 2 of the zipper 1 as shown in FIG. 3, the first liquid polymer will be directly infiltrated into the space between fibers and solidify under the normal temperature to form the water-repellent layer 3. Strips 2 will not be fused with each other after the first liquid polymer solidifies as a result that the bulk of the first liquid polymer are infiltrated into the space between the fibers of the strips 2.

When the manufacture is put into operation, a step d as shown in FIG. 4 can be further added after step c: molding a second liquid polymer on the surface of the water-repellent layer 3 to form a predetermined profile or three-dimensional design (characters or patterns). The first liquid polymer forming the water-repellent layer 3 can be stably combined with the second liquid polymer thereon owing to their similar property. Besides, in the step d, a predetermined profile or three-dimensional design (characters or patterns) can be formed by the aid of a mold or a screen (not shown in figures), by laser printing, or by color ink-jet printing.

Moreover, after the step a, a printing step can be further inserted: printing characters or patterns on the surface of the strips 2 of the zipper 1. When the step b is completed, the first liquid polymer will cover the characters or patterns printed thereon so that the characters and patterns can be protected. If the printing step described above follows the step b, it makes possible to show these designs or advertisements.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 5, the two figures show preferred embodiments of a zipper according to the present invention comprising a pair of interlockable chains 11, a pair of strips 2 each of which is combined with each chain 11, a water-repellent layer 3, and a 3-dimension molding layer 4.

The water-repellent layer 3 is formed by solidifying the first liquid polymer on the surface of or within the strips 2 of the zipper 1 and the 3-dimension molding layer 4 is disposed on the surface of the water-repellent layer 3. The molding layer 4 of the present invention is an oblong piece protruded upwardly. When being put into practical utilization, the coating layer 4 can be other predetermined profiles or designs (characters or patterns) to produce a three-dimensional effect.

Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7, a printing layer 5 can be further disposed on the surface of the strips 2 of the zipper 1. The printing layer 5 can be characters or patterns and can be protected by covering the water-repellent layer 3 thereon after the printing layer 5 is printed on the surface of the strips 2 of the zipper 1. Besides, the printing layer 5 also can be printed on the surface of the water-repellent layer 3, which makes possible to show the designs and advertisements although the printing layer 5 will not able to be protected by the water-repellent proof layer 3.

Thereby, the present invention has the following advantages:

-   -   1. The present invention can achieve water-repellent effect by         infiltrating and solidifying the first liquid polymer on the         surface of and within the zipper strips and can reduce cost by         simplifying manufacturing procedures.     -   2. The present invention can form a predetermined profile of         shapes, characters, or patterns by molding the second liquid         polymer on the surface of the solidified first liquid polymer         and the predetermined profile can be securely combined with the         surface of the zipper strips for the first and second liquid         polymer have similar property.     -   3. The present invention provides more attractiveness for sale         by attaching various profiles or designs to the surface of the         zipper strips wherein the various profiles or designs can be         changed easily.

Accordingly, as disclosed in the above description and attached drawings, the present invention can provide a zipper and method of manufacturing the same having low cost, water-repellent effect on the surface of the zipper strip, and three-dimensional effect by forming a predetermined profile on the surface of zipper strips. It is new and can be put into industrial use.

While the invention has been described with reference to certain embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted without departing from the scope of the present invention. 

1. A method for manufacturing a zipper comprising steps of: a. providing a zipper having a pair of strips; b. coating a first liquid polymer on the surface of the pair of strips to the extent that the first liquid polymer is infiltrated into the pair of strips; c. solidifying the first liquid polymer to form a water-repellent layer; and d. molding a second liquid polymer on the surface of the water-repellent layer to form a predetermined profile.
 2. The method for manufacturing a zipper as claimed in claim 1, wherein in the step d, a mold is provided for forming the second liquid polymer into a predetermined profile.
 3. The method for manufacturing a zipper as claimed in claim 1, wherein the liquid polymer includes PU (polyurethane) material.
 4. The method for manufacturing a zipper as claimed in claim 3, wherein the PU material is in single-fluid form.
 5. The method for manufacturing a zipper as claimed in claim 3, wherein the PU material is in double-fluid form.
 6. The method for manufacturing a zipper as claimed in claim 1, wherein the liquid polymer includes silica gel material.
 7. The method for manufacturing a zipper as claimed in claim 1, wherein the method further comprises a step for printing characters or patterns on the surface of the pair of strips after step a.
 8. A zipper, comprising: a pair of interlockable chains; a pair of strips each of which is combined with an interlockable chain; a water-repellent layer, formed by solidifying a first liquid polymer on the surface of or within the pair of strips; and a molding layer, formed by coating a second liquid polymer on the surface of the pair of strips so that the second polymer can be shaped into a predetermined profile.
 9. The zipper as claimed in claim 8, wherein the second liquid polymer is shaped into a predetermined profile by utilizing a mold.
 10. The zipper as claimed in claim 8, wherein the water-repellent layer is formed by coating the first liquid polymer on the surface of the pair of strips to the extent that the liquid polymer is infiltrated into the pair of the strips and solidifying the first liquid polymer.
 11. The zipper as claimed in claim 8, wherein a printing layer is further provided on the surface of the pair of strips on which covers the water-repellent layer.
 12. The zipper as claimed in claim 8, wherein a printing layer is further provided on the surface of the water-repellent layer for printing characters or patterns on the surface of the water-repellent layer. 